Bethlehem’s zoning hearing board voted 4-0 tonight to deny Upper Saucon Township-based Bellante Properties from opening a self-storage facility in the former car dealership on the corner with 11th Avenue.

Bethlehem Planning and Zoning Director Darlene Heller said she didn’t think the proposed new five-story building that could be accessed 24-hours a day fit with the neighborhood. The zoning in the area is intended for less intense commercial uses, she said.

“It’s certainly easily developable for some other use,” she said.

Realtor Dick Adams disagreed. After Straub left there was some interest in the site from other car dealers, but none ever made an offer, and there hasn’t been much interest in the site in the three years it's been vacant, he said.

Both Adams and Bellante owner Vince Fantozzi argued the self-storage facility would be an improvement to the dilapidated property and that it would be a less intense use than the car dealership. Bellante had proposed renovating the existing structure and building a new five-story building next to it.

“Being that it’s a property that has been vacant for a number of years and a blighted property, we feel this will be an advantageous use to the property,” Fantozzi said.

West Broad Street business owners had mixed views on the proposal. Ambre Studio owner Evelyn Beckman said she doesn’t oppose self-storage facilities but she doesn’t think they fit on West Broad Street, which is enjoying revitalization.

“We want to bring life to Bethlehem and I don’t see how, having a lack of people … coming in and out to provide commerce,” she said.

Bethlehem Gallery of Floors owner Bob Young, however, said he thinks the facility’s design is major improvement over what’s there now. He said he also knows Fantozzi to run quality businesses.

“I think we need people with guts and (who) have the ability to get something like this off the ground to get the expansion going west,” Young said.